Posts by Pete Zahut

128

Looking Back In Retrospect To 1975...

by titch in

greetings, folks: so, it's been 40 years since 1975. and, if you were actively involved with the witnesses back then, the mindset of many was, that by early autumn of 1975, it would mark the anniversary of 6000 years of human existence.

and, the hope was then, that it would mark the start of the 1000-year of christ, from the heavenly realm.

but, looking back now, 40 years ago, in june of 1975, only 3 more months remained until early autumn.

Pete Zahut

I graduated high school in 1975 and as a student, I found the prevalent "end of the world" mentality among JW's, very demotivating. What kid wants to do his homework or plan his future career if the adults in his little world are saying everything is coming to an end at any moment? Somehow I managed to get good grades but it was pure coincidence, not because I was really trying.

I remember that the much talked about "energy crisis" was in full swing at that time and JW's loved to say it was a sure sign that things were coming to an end. Who could possibly survive if gasoline ever reached a dollar per gallon ?

Jacques Costeau was going around saying that because of pollution, by the year 2000, there would be no life left in the ocean . JW's used to mockingly laugh and say that we'd be in paradise by then.

We had just come through the Watergate hearings and Nixon resigned as President in order to avoid impeachment. This was unheard of at the time and JW's saw this as further proof that man is corrupt and unable to rule himself and the world was doomed.

They'd have run me out of town on a rail if I were to suggest that we'd still be here plugging away in the year 2015.

28

pissed off my wife today at the assembly..I asked her why the bozo GB member lett has a pinky ring.

by goingthruthemotions in

so at the assembly to day that nitwit lett gave a talk....i noticed right away he had a pinky ring.

i asked my wife what was the purpose of the pinky ring?

and then asked....would jesus wear a pinky?

Pete Zahut

Sometimes the less said the better when talking to someone in cult mode.

I found that once I had my little say and then stopped talking, THEY brought the subject up and I let THEM do the talking.

Sometimes as they were defending their beliefs and I quietly listened and said nothing, you could see that they were realizing how ridiculous their arguments were.

If you let them know that you simply want to understand rather than to prove a point or be right, they let down their guard.

In the case of Lett's pinky ring you could have casually said, for example.

You: " Bro. Lett always looks sharp but I don't know.....something about him wearing a pinky ring, doesn't sit right with me"

Wife: How so?

You: " Well I'm probably not seeing things correctly or being overly critical but I suppose it's because I'm thinking about Jesus' message of modesty and humility and about all those in this audience and in audiences around the world who are living meager existences because they are putting kingdom interest first in their lives or because they live in impoverished lands. It seems like sometimes a pinky ring is something a person with excess in a material way, wears and it sort of sends the message that the wearer thinks pretty highly of himself or of his position in life." Or maybe it's just because I saw that video where they are encouraging little kids to put their pocket money in the contribution box rather than treat themselves to an ice cream and seeing him with a pinky ring makes me think he's not really sacrificing much himself.

Wife: "The Bible says noting about the wearing of pinky rings and besides, he's speaking to large crowds of people and needs to look his best and look like an authority figure"

You: (nodding in agreement) "Hmmm....yeah...I suppose I can see how that could be the case. He does need to look like someone who knows what he's talking about "

If you make sure to let them know that you are questioning your self rather than their beliefs and leave it at that, often they will feel like they've done their duty by defending their cult and will at the same time hear the holes in their own logic while doing so. Over time they'll begin to notice more and more of these holes and will begin to question things as they hear them on their own.

47

Songs celebrating leaving the faith? Not being a puppet, mind controlled, living life, etc etc

by aley63 in

i am looking for some songs that are in ref to celebrating leaving, seeing the light, realizing what you were told wasnt right, being happy w your life, etc etc.

all those emotions about being controlled and repressed, being told what you can feel or think or how to live, blindly following the "brotherhood ".

Pete Zahut

Blinded By New Light

27

I disfellowshipped my parents this week..

by fulano in

i just wrote them a mail, telling them to not contact me any more under any circumstances, illness or death (79 and 83 years old).

unless they leave the cult and would apologize for our f*'.ed-up upbringing which ruined our whole life.

Pete Zahut

JW's get to have the upper hand in how much or how little they will shun their family members and you are supposed to be grateful for whatever crumbs they throw you. You've taken the wind out of their sails by turning the tables on them. I've thought about saying to JW's I run into from time to time... " I hate to sound harsh but are you still a JW? If so I can't in good conscience speak to you if you are still part of that misleading and destructive organization."

The difficult part of this lies in the fact that they are your parents and they are quite elderly. It's hard to be forgiving even when you know that they too are victims of a cult.

32

It came in today's mail

by Virgochik in

it came today, the dreaded envelope containing my personal copy of "return to jehovah" from my elderly, desperate mother.

it included a small note asking me to read it over and to let her know what i think.

she got it at her assembly.. firstly, i'm angry that she continues to push her religion on me, given that i stopped attending meetings over thirty years ago, and very offended that she assumes that i still want to be a witness, which is her choice of religion, not mine.

Pete Zahut

I understand your feelings completely but you have to remember this only annoys you because you choose to let it. It's only a piece of paper toss it out, (tear it to shreds if it makes you fell better) scan the note for anything newsworthy and go on about your day. Send your Mom a newsy note or card and say nothing about the brochure.

As you said, your Mom is not well and one day when she is not here you will have the satisfaction of knowing you behaved decently toward her even though she (unlike Jesus) is pushing her beliefs down your throat. If you catch yourself mulling this problem over an hour or a day later, dismiss it from your head....change channels and think of something more pleasant.

33

Why are JWs so against debate

by enigma1863 in

if the jws follow proverbs 27:17 they should not be afraid of any tension or friction.. in order for iron to sharpen iron you need pressure, tension friction and a bit of heated debate..

Pete Zahut

They can only bear to hear that which confirms what they've already believe. Their beliefs are based on the one dimensional logic they have been taught.

We all remember how that was, don't we?

5

Caption the Disfellowshipping Image

by Wasanelder Once in

here is the blank.

have fun!.

your turn!.

Pete Zahut

5

Caption the Disfellowshipping Image

by Wasanelder Once in

here is the blank.

have fun!.

your turn!.

Pete Zahut

5

Caption the Disfellowshipping Image

by Wasanelder Once in

here is the blank.

have fun!.

your turn!.

Pete Zahut

Misdirected Shunning

Sisters in Front: "Psst....I'm not positive but that blonde over there looks a lot like Dave and Edna Johnson's oldest daughter from over in the east congregation...you know...the one who got herself Disfellowshipped last week. Let's hug and show her how happy we are."

Woman in Blue: "Hmmm...they put an invitation on my front door inviting me to come here today but it's as if nobody can even see me. That does it... next Sunday I'm going to the Presbyterian Church...maybe they'll be more welcoming to new people"

3

If quick builds are miracles....

by snare&racket in

jw
friends

i found jw's like to make ignorant, disproportionate claims qbout their achievements and activity.. despite the abundance of free labour, free money in the billions and the ability to make people do as they wish, the ridiculous claim that even a 3 day quickbuild is a miracle has finally been put to shame.

i remember such claims of assistance from god, evident by projects that went on for weeks and months!

it's just a timber frame building with a layer of bricks one side and paint the other!

Pete Zahut

If quick builds are miracles, what happened here ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFPiZ00FoPA